Monitoring techniques for rockfall hazard across Malta, Mediterranean Sea.

The Maltese Islands are exposed to a variety of environmental impacts because of their geographic position, one such impact being coastal hazards arising from erosion, exacerbated by climate change. The prevailing mitigation approach has traditionally been based on visual assessment of risk in specific sites rather than scientifically gathered information as an evidence basis for action to mitigate such risks. Constant monitoring is required to identify the probability and patterns of these events, which would assist in prediction. This was done using in situ measurements which include tiltmeter readings and topographic nail distances. Certain sites were chosen across the Maltese islands for both installations, selected through historical research and other datasets including dangerous signage installations. Several nails were designated between primary and secondary signifying more stable to unstable cliff edge respectively. Distances using a total station were then taken from primary nails to the secondary nails for consecutive datasets. Tilt plates were installed in three areas with the nails and data recorded by positioning the tiltmeter at different directional axis.